India’s Patent Laws Fall Short, Report Claims

Law360, New York (January 19, 2007, 12:00 AM EST) -- In a move that could spur changes to India’s intellectual property laws, an independent panel has called into question a key section of the country’s Patent Act, saying it is not fully in line with international standards.

The panel, headed by Dr. Ragunath Anand Mashelkar, Director-General of India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, was tasked with determining whether limiting patent grants for pharmaceutical substances to new chemical entities (NCEs) is compatible with India’s obligations under Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).